Lavender top tube
2 mL plasma
0.5 mL plasma
Collect specimen in a lavender top (EDTA) tube. Spin, aliquot and send plasma at room temp to Specimen Processing. If specimen will be received at Viracor >96 hours, freeze specimen for shipment
Monday - Saturday
1 - 2 days
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
HSV-1 and HSV-2 are well known etiologic agents of gingivostomatitis, conjunctivitis, keratitis, herpetic whitlow, and genital infections as well as encephalitis, aseptic meningitis, atypical pneumonias and a wide variety of other clinical conditions. Quantitative HSV DNA PCR is the ideal diagnostic tool for CNS specimens, since HSV will rarely grow from CSF in cell culture. Quantitative PCR can be used to detect the presence of the virus as well as track the course of infections and response to treatment.
Test sent to Viracor Eurofins.
87530
36125
Ambient preferred, refrigerated acceptable, frozen if specimen will not be received by Viracor in less than 96 hours.